The three main objectives of the WP have been presented: Task 1: barcoding and phylogeny Task 2: phylogeography? Task 3: genetic diversity

The following points have been discussed:

Active partners for this task, i.e. partners which will take part to molecular analyzes: IMBE and HCMR?, and particularly in alphabetical order: Didier Aurelle, Anne Chenuil, Jean-Pierre Féral, Elena Sarropoulou (please add names if necessary)

Samples for barcoding: in order to start this task we need samples from various species with potential names (which will eventually be challenged according to the genetic results and taxonomic identifications). For this part a few individuals per species are required, if possible not close to each other to avoid clonal samples

Molecular markers and techniques are already available for barcoding and phylogeny. We can already send your samples, we will send a detailed sampling protocol as soon as possible

Species and samples for phylogeography: we first need to identify the focal species, i.e. quite common species (possibly restricted to East or West Mediterranean if there is no alternative), present in different study sites. For phylogeography two or three species would be a good starting point (reference / focal species) and we would need samples from various locations, including sites not surveyed in other WPs. The goal is to have a precise idea of the genetic structure of the species. We would need around 30 individuals per location. Mesophyllum expansum will be studied elsewhere (Montpellier II University)

Species and samples for genetic diversity: we need to identify the focal species here as well (possibly the same as for phylogeography). More species per study sites would be interesting for a better analysis of trends in genetic diversity. Genetic diversity will be compared to other ecological indicators and to environmental parameters.

Markers for phylogeography and genetic diversity need to be defined

An additional and complementary approach has been suggested: thanks to Next Generation Sequencing, it would be possible to sequence the transcriptome of different individuals of the same species with several goals:

Compare gene expression levels in experimental conditions (e.g. thermal stress): this would allow identifying candidate genes (e.g. genes involved in stress response) which could be surveyed in natural conditions and could be correlated to environmental parameters

We need here i) to estimate the cost, ii) to identify an interesting species, iii) to define the strategy (particularly for the experimental procedure)

The work could be achieved through students exchanges: e.g. a student working on the ecology in Greece could come in HCMR or IMBE to do the molecular work on its focal species

A workshop or summer school on the use of molecular markers will be organized.